Apparatus for in vitro testing of tampon-and-applicator systems

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for in vitro testing of catamenial tampon-and-applicator systems are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an in vitro receptacle for accepting tampons deployed during the testing procedure. The in vitro receptacle comprises a sleeve with a tampon-deflecting zone, representing an in vivo vaginal channel with a frontal area of a cervix.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for in vitro testing of catamenial tampon-and applicator systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Catamenial tampon-and-applicator systems referred herein to a combination of a tampon applicator and a tampon housed in the applicator, to be self-used by a user to insert the tampon into the vagina to absorb menstrual fluid to prevent leakage of the fluid from the vagina. Commercial tampons are rated by their capacity to absorb and hold a certain amount of fluid, defined by the industry standards regulating commercial labeling of the tampons, dividing them into several categories, such as “junior,” “regular,” “super,” and the like, by a standard Syngyna Absorbency test method FDA 21 CFR 801.430

However, some tampons, regardless of their rated capability to absorb and hold fluid, fail to prevent leakage before the tampon reaches its rated absorbent capacity, allowing the menstrual fluid to bypass the tampon along vaginal walls. This problem has been known as a premature leakage. Typically in the industry, the premature leakage problem has been addressed by improving various performance characteristics of the tampons, for example, the ability of the tampons to absorb menstrual fluid faster and to swell faster inside the vagina in order to prevent menstrual fluid from bypassing the tampon along the vaginal walls. However, despite such product improvements, which typically require considerable cost, most tampons will still fail to prevent premature leakage, i.e., before they become saturated with the rated amount of the absorbed liquid.

In this respect, it has been surprisingly discovered by the applicants that the instances of premature leakage were substantially reduced when panelists were using tampon-and-applicator systems discovered by the applicants and disclosed in the patent applications (P&G case numbers 9660, 9661, 9662, 9663 and 9664) filed Jun. 4, 2004 coincidentally with the instant patent application and hereby incorporated by reference herein. Coronal MRI images of the panelists using the tampon-and-applicator systems discovered by the applicants revealed that the tampons were disposed within a certain area of the vagina that preferably does not extend beyond the cervix. These images were different from the MRI images of the panelists using the currently marketed tampon-and-applicator systems, deploying the tampons substantially beyond the cervix such that the forward portion of the tampon is substantially posterior of the frontal area of the cervix, thus, resulting in only a portion of the tampon (versus the hole tampon, as discovered by the applicants) being within the preferred area defining the target positioning.

This target positioning has been identified by the applicants as a “low placement positioning” disclosed in the patent applications referenced above (P&G case numbers 9660, 9661, 9662, 9663 and 9664) filed Jun. 4, 2004 coincidentally with the instant patent application and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Referring to the MRI images noted above, and represented in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a coronal MRI image of a tampon user having a tampon in the vagina, inserted by the user using a typical commercial tampon-and-applicator system. In comparison, FIG. 2 is a coronal MRI image of a tampon user having a tampon in the vagina, inserted by the user using a tampon-and-applicator system of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a tampon 10 is inserted substantially deeper in the vagina than a tampon 10A in FIG. 2. The deeper insertion of the tampon 10 results in deflecting of the leading end 11 of the tampon 10 by the cervix 18, specifically by the frontal area 19 of the cervix 18 (deflecting the leading end 11 of the tampon 10 to the left, as shown in FIG. 1, or to the right, depending on the anatomy of the user), and in having the leading end 11 of the tampon 10 being disposed substantially posterior of the frontal area 19 of the cervix 18.

In comparison to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 demonstrates the most preferred position of the tampon 10A according to the present invention, when the leading end 11 of the tampon 10A is disposed anterior of the frontal area 19 of the cervix 18. It should be noted, as will be disclosed in more detail below, that the “lower placement position” discovered by the applicants can include instances when the leading end 11 of the tampon 10A is posterior, but only slightly, of the frontal area 19 of the cervix 18.

The importance of positioning a tampon in relation to the cervix creates a need for in vitro testing capability enabling testing and studying the performance of tampons disposed inside an in vitro apparatus in relation to a cervix-representing element of the in vitro apparatus. However, the above need is not addressed in the art of in vitro testing of catamenial products, including the Syngina test referenced above. Therefore, there is a need for a novel method and apparatus for in vitro testing the tampons disposed in relation to a cervix-representing element. Further, there is a need for a novel method and apparatus for in vitro testing of tampon-and-applicator systems deploying the tampons into the in vitro apparatus comprising the cervix-representing element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for in vitro testing of catamenial tampon-and-applicator systems, comprising a pressurized container and a sleeve disposed inside the container for accepting a tampon deployed by an applicator of the tampon-and-applicator system, the sleeve comprising a tampon-deflecting zone.

The apparatus can further comprise a low-placement positioning zone having a width and forming an anterior depth and a posterior depth. The apparatus can further comprise a liquid delivering means for providing a liquid inside the sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a coronal MRI image of a tampon user having a tampon in the vagina, inserted by a user using a typical commercial tampon-and-applicator system.

FIG. 2 is a coronal MRI image of a tampon user having a tampon in the vagina, inserted by a user using a tampon-and-applicator system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a test stand of the present invention for in vitro testing of tampon-and-application systems by the method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the test stand of FIG. 3 (not showing, for clarity, a photo camera of FIG. 3).

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the test stand of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of an in vitro receptacle of the test stand of FIGS. 3–5, having transparent walls.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the in vitro receptacle of FIG. 6, taken along lines 7—7 directed perpendicularly to the central axes 140 of the test stand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the in vitro receptacle of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the in vitro receptacle of FIGS. 7 and 8, taken along line 9.

FIG. 9A is another embodiment of the in vitro receptacle of FIG. 9, additionally comprising a liquid delivering capability.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, partly cross sectional, top plan view of the entry area of the in vitro receptacle shown in FIG. 8.

FIGS. 11–16 show photographs of the sequential stages of fabricating a sleeve of the in vitro receptacle of FIGS. 6–9, from two film sheets.

FIG. 17 is an assembly view of the components included in the sequential steps of fabricating the sleeve, as shown in FIGS. 11–16.

FIG. 18 is a photograph of a trimming die for trimming the periphery of the sleeve fabricated according to the steps shown in FIGS. 11–16.

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the sleeve trimmed by the trimming die of FIG. 18.

FIG. 19A is another embodiment of the sleeve of FIG. 19, comprising a channel for a liquid-delivering tubing.

FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of the sleeve of FIG. 19, taken along line 20.

FIGS. 21–23 show photographs of sequential stages of assembling a sleeve assembly including the sleeve of FIGS. 19 and 20.

FIG. 24 is a top view of the assembled sleeve assembly shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 shows one embodiment of an adaptor and a tampon-and-applicator system inserted into the adaptor.

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of the test stand of FIG. 4, additionally showing the adaptor with a tampon-and-applicator system of FIG. 25, being inserted into the in vitro receptacle.

FIG. 27 is a top plan view of the test stand of FIG. 26, showing the initial forward action of the activation mechanism pushing the applicator to deploy the tampon into the in vitro receptacle.

FIG. 28 is a top plan view of the test stand of FIG. 27, showing the competed forward action of the activation mechanism after the deployment of the tampon into the in vitro receptacle.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged side elevation view of the activation member of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a top plan view of the test stand of FIG. 28, showing the retraction action of the activation mechanism with the activation member pulling the adaptor with the empty applicator from the in vitro receptacle.

FIG. 31 is a top plan view of the test stand of FIG. 30, additionally showing a pin plug inserted into the vitro receptacle.

FIG. 32 is an enlarged elevation view of the pin plug of FIG. 31, taken along lines 31—31 disposed parallel to the direction of insertion 138.

FIG. 33 is an enlarged side view of the pin plug of FIG. 32, taken along arrow 33.

FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram illustrating the dimensional ranges of a low-placement positioning zone of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is an exemplary photograph of a tampon disposed within the boundaries of the most preferred dimensions of the tampon-positioning zone of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is an exemplary photograph of a tampon disposed within the boundaries of the least preferred dimensions of the tampon-positioning zone of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is an exemplary photograph of a tampon disposed partially outside the boundaries of the most preferred dimensions of the tampon-positioning zone of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a testing device identified herein as in vitro receptacle, representing relevant in vivo anatomical and physical characteristics affecting the positioning of a tampon deployed by use of an applicator of a tampon-and-applicator system activated by a user during a tampon insertion procedure.

The apparatus of the present invention will be described in the terms of one exemplary embodiment that the applicants found particularly suitable; however, it should be noted that other suitable embodiments could be feasible within the scope of the present invention.

Further, within the scope of this specification, each term or phrase below will include the following meaning or meanings. These terms, however, may be defined further with additional language in other portions of the specification and/or the depiction in the figures.

The term “tampon-and-applicator system” refers to the combination of an applicator and a tampon housed, at least partially, inside the applicator.

The term “tampon” refers herein to any type of absorbent structure that can be inserted into a human vagina for the absorption of menses therefrom. In particular, the term “tampon” refers herein to both so called self-sustaining-shape and non-self-sustaining-shape tampons known in the industry, having a generally cylindrical configuration ranging about 30 to 60 mm in length and from 8 to 20 mm in width. However, it should be noted that the term “tampon” does not exclude herein tampons intended to aid in wound healing or to deliver active materials including medicamentous or moisture. Furthermore, this term “tampon” does not exclude herein devices intended to help control incontinence, which can comprise non-absorbent or at least partially absorbent materials.

The term “applicator” refers herein to a device as a part of a tampon-and-applicator system, used for inserting the tampon into a vagina. A typical applicator includes two telescoping tubes, wherein a larger tube contains a tampon (fully or partially enclosed, depending on the design), and a smaller tube serves as a plunger for pushing the tampon from the larger tube, and wherein after the completion of pushing action, depending on the design, the tampon is fully or partially expelled from the larger tube. The user typically inserts the applicator into the vagina according to manufacturer instructions and pushes the smaller tube to a predetermined position (for example, a position at which the trailing ends of both tubes are even and the smaller tube cannot be pushed any further, or, alternatively, when for the convenience of the user a smaller tube has a flange-like trailing end, the smaller tube cannot be pushed further when its flange-like trailing end is pushed against the trailing end of the larger tube). After the deployment, the user removes the empty applicator from the vagina, leaving the tampon in the vagina.

The term “low-placement positioning” refers herein to a position at which a tampon (inserted into a human vagina by a user of a tampon-and-applicator system containing the tampon) is placed in the vagina less posterior than the position typically resulting from using commercial tampon-and-applicator systems.

The term “low-placement positioning zone” refers herein to a horizontal area inside the apparatus of the present invention, representing an area in a coronal section of a human vagina between a hymenal ring and the frontal area of a cervix.

Referring to FIGS. 3–5, the test apparatus 100 comprises a transparent base 102 disposed atop a diffuse light box 104 for transmitting the light from the light box 104 through the transparent base 102. The base 102 also serves for mounting the components of the test apparatus 100. These components include the following.

-   (1) An in vitro receptacle 106 for accepting a tampon provided by     the deployment of a tampon-and applicator system being tested by the     method of the present invention, wherein the receptacle 106     comprises vagina-representative elements disposed inside transparent     walls enabling a test operator to view and/or photograph the     position and the performance of the tampon inside the receptacle     106.     -   It should be noted that the technical characteristics selected         for the in vitro apparatus of the present invention have been         based on data collected by the applicants working with panelists         using tampon-and-applicator systems. The data included MRI         images of coronal sections of panelists' vaginas to provide         anatomical measurements for selecting design parameters of the         exemplary embodiment of the in vitro receptacle 106 of the         present invention. Accordingly, other dimensions, preferably         within the range of the MRI measurements (Table 3, below) can be         utilized in designing other embodiments of the present         invention, particularly suitable for in vitro studies of         tampons, including such characteristics as absorption and         expansion capabilities of the tampons with respect to the         position of the tampon in relation to the cervix. The in vitro         receptacle 106 is disclosed in detail below. -   (2) An activation mechanism 108 for providing a consistent action of     deploying the tampon from the tampon-and-applicator systems tested     by the method of the present invention. The mechanism 108 pushes the     smaller tube of the applicator of the tampon-and-applicator system     tested to deploy the tampon, pushing the tampon a certain distance     through the larger insertion end of the larger tube of the     applicator at a controlled speed. Although the step of removing the     empty applicator after the deployment of the tampon can be performed     manually, the exemplary embodiment provides for more consistent     removal procedure including two controlled steps (a) dwelling the     tampon in the deployed position for a certain time inside the in     vitro receptacle 106, and (b) removing the empty applicator from the     in vitro receptacle 106 by way of removing an adapter (described     below) holding the applicator. -   (3) A photo camera 112 with a camera stand 110 for placing the     camera 112 above the receptacle 106 for taking photographs of the     deployed tampons inside the receptacle 106.

FIGS. 6–10 show one exemplary embodiment of the in vitro receptacle 106, which includes a container 120. The container 120 can be of any suitable shape and/or size, having transparent at least two walls: the top wall and the bottom wall, to enable a test operator to view and/or to photograph through the top wall the contents of the container 120 illuminated through the bottom wall by the light box 104 shown in FIGS. 3–5. However, in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 6–9, all walls of the container 120 are transparent and made of a 12 mm LEXAN. The walls are assembled to provide hermetic seal to withstand a pressure of at least 2.5 psi (17.2 kilopascal). In the shown embodiment, the bottom wall is removable to provide access inside the box, and includes a gasket 121 disposed between the bottom wall and the vertical walls to ensure hermetic seal. The inside dimensions of the exemplary embodiment of the container 120 are selected to have a width W of about 100 mm, a length L of about 106 mm, and a height H of about 82 mm.

The in vitro receptacle 106 can further include a flange 124 attached to the front wall of the container 120 at an opening 122 in the front wall of the container 120. The flange 124 enables for consistent positioning of the tampon-and-applicator systems tested by the method of the present invention, by providing both a certain direction and a depth of insertion of the applicators into the in vitro receptacle 106 during the deployment of the tampon into the in vitro receptacle 106.

The direction of insertion of the applicators of the tampon-and-applicator systems tested by the method of the present invention is selected by the applicants based on extensive testing by the applicants of female panelists using various tampon-and-applicator systems. The direction of insertion forms a horizontal angle A of 2 degrees in the horizontal plane, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, and a vertical angle B of 8 degrees in the vertical plane, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9. However, it should be noted that within the scope of the present invention, the angles A and B can vary to represent different insertion conditions, if desired.

The direction of insertion is defined by the direction of a flange axis 138 forming the above angles A and B and extending through two openings (best shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 10): a larger opening 134 and a smaller opening 136, both of which being disposed concentrically in relation to the flange axis 138.

The two openings 134 and 136 are apportioned by a base surface 142 representing the position of a human hymenal ring at the entrance of the vagina. The base surface 142, as will be described in more detail below, provides for consistent depth of insertion of the applicators of the tampon-and-applicator system tested by the method of the present invention. The base surface 142 is perpendicular to the flange axis 138 and parallel to the front surface 135 of the flange 124. The base surface 142 is disposed at a depth D (FIG. 10) of 14 mm from the front surface 135.

The flange 124 is attached to the front wall of the container 120 such that the flange axis 138 coincides with the axis of the entry opening 122 of the container 120 and forms the above noted horizontal angle A (FIGS. 8 and 10) with a central axis 140 of the container 120. The central axis 140 equally divides the inside width W of the container 120. The central axis 140 also represents the axis coinciding with the sagittal plane dividing the user's body in halves.

As best shown in FIG. 10, the flange axis 138 includes two points: a first point 125 and a second point 158 separated from each other by the depth D noted hereinabove. The first point 125 is aligned with the front surface 135 of the flange 124 and is the point of intersection of the flange axis 138 and the central axis 140. In the vertical plane, as shown in FIG. 9, the first point 125 is disposed at a height 137 of 33 mm from the bottom of the container 120. The second point 158 is aligned with the base surface 142 and is the point of intersection of the flange axis 138 with the plane of the base surface 142.

The size of the larger opening 134 of the flange 124 is selected to be greater than the outer dimension of any tampon-and-applicator system to be tested by the method of the present invention. Moreover, because the outer dimensions of various tampon-and applicator systems to be tested by the method of the present invention can vary, the size of the larger opening 134 is selected to fit snugly the outer dimension of adaptors 302 (one embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 25) having the same outer dimension and different inner dimensions to fit various tampon and-applicator systems. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the larger opening 134 is about 25 mm in diameter.

As shown in FIG. 25, the adaptor 302 can have an outer dimension defined by a diameter 310 of about 25 mm (sized to fit snugly into the larger opening 134 of the flange 124) and an inner opening 306 (which can be of any shape and size to fit snugly a larger tube 308 of an applicator 309 of a tampon-and-applicator system 304 to be tested by the method of the present invention). Accordingly, the method of the present invention can include a multiplicity of adaptors 302 having the same outer dimension 310 and different inner openings 306 designed to fit snugly different shapes and dimensions of different larger tubes 308 of different tampon-and-applicator systems to be tested by the method of the present invention.

The multiple adaptors 302 serve not only to fit different tampon-and-applicator systems, but also to provide for consistent positioning of different tampon-and-applicator systems with respect to the trailing end 312 (FIG. 25) of the larger tube 308 in the direction of insertion along the flange axis 138 (FIG. 10).

This consistent positioning of the tested tampon and applicator systems can be provided in the following manner. First, the tampon-and-applicator system 304 (FIG. 25) is inserted by the test operator into the adaptor 302 in such a manner that the trailing end 312 of the larger tube 308 is even with the trailing end 314 of the adaptor 302. Second, as will be also shown below, when the adaptor 302 with the tampon-and-applicator system inserted by the test operator into the larger diameter 134 of the flange 124, the leading end 316 of the adaptor 302 is brought against and in contact with the base surface 142 of the flange 124 to provide consistent positioning of the adaptor 302 along the flange axis 138.

As noted above, the multiple adaptors 302 can have different shapes of the inner openings 306 to accept different shapes and outer dimensions of the larger tubes of the tested tampon-and-applicator systems to provide for even positioning (as shown in FIG. 25) of the trailing end 312 of the larger tube 308 of different tampon-and applicator systems with the trailing end 314 of the different adaptors 302. For example, when a trailing end 312 of the larger tube 308 of a particular tampon-and-applicator system has a flange-like shape, the inner opening 306 of the adaptor 302 should have a recess to accommodate the flange-like shape of the larger tube 308 to provide for even positioning of the trailing end 321 of the larger tube 308 and the trailing end 314 of the adaptor 302.

Further, the multiple adaptors 302 have the same length 320 of about 23 mm to provide for consistent positioning of the tampon-and-applicator systems. The outer surface of the multiple adaptors 302 includes a circular grove 322, disposed adjacent the trailing end 314, for engaging with a driving member 356 (discussed below) of the activating mechanism 108 for pulling the adaptor 302 from the in vitro receptacle 106.

Referring again to FIGS. 6–9, the in vitro receptacle 106 further includes a sleeve 128, also shown separately in FIGS. 19 and 20, representing a human vaginal cavity. The sleeve 128, as shown in FIGS. 11–17, represents one exemplary embodiment that can be fabricated from two film sheets by sealing the two sheets together to form a channel of a certain size and configuration be assembled with a particular size frame enabling the sleeve 128 to take a representative spatial configuration.

In the exemplary embodiment, both film sheets are the same material characterized by relatively low gage, high stiffness and toughness, having a seal layer designed to offer a lock up seal strength when sealed at increased temperatures. It is important that film does not permanently distort during repeated tampon insertions. It is also important that the film not be so elastic as to cause the tampon to spring back once it is deployed into the sleeve 128. Such suitable film is identified as B559P-BX126B is HDPE/LLDPE/EVA coextruded film and provided by Printpack Inc., a division of Jackson Blown Film of Jackson, Tenn., has the properties shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Typical Properties Units ASTM #/TAPPI # Value Caliper mil TAPPI # 411 1.15 Basis Weight Lbs/ream TAPPI # 410 16.80 Yield Sq. in/lb 25728 Heat Seal Strength @ Lbs/in 1.25–3.0 200 deg. F. /40 psi/sec Tensile Strength Psi MD D882 4,000 CD 3,000 Elongation at Break % MD D882 300 CD 450 Tear Strength Grams MD D1983 75 CD 1100 Coefficient of Friction gms D1894 0.30 In/In Coefficient of Friction gms D1894 0.25 Out/Out

Referring again to FIGS. 11–16 showing photographs demonstrating the sequential steps of fabricating the sleeve 128 and to FIG. 17 illustrating the stack up order of the components shown in the photographs of the FIGS. 11–16, wherein FIG. 11 shows a lower sealing plate 202 made of NYLON with a cavity 204 machined with a 0.75″ (19 mm) ball mill. The cavity 204 is about 5.6″ (142 mm) long and about 0.51″ (13 mm) deep to accommodate a bar 214 shown in FIG. 13. The bar 214 can be fabricated from a standard 0.750″ (19 mm) diameter, 304 steel rod, machined to form a dimension 230 (FIG. 17) of about 0.490″ (12.4 mm) to fit into the cavity 204 such that the bar 214 does not stick above the surface of the lower sealing plate 202.

The top surface 205 of the plate 202 is covered with a TEFLON coated FIBERGLASS fabric of 0.003″ thick available from McMASTER-CARR #8577K81. The lower sealing plate 202 also includes guides 206 for providing proper positioning of an iron 226 shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 12 illustrates the next step in the fabrication of the sleeve 128, showing a first film sheet 210 being placed on top of the lower sealing plate 202 such that the EVA side (referenced above with respect to the material for the sleeve 128) of the first film sheet 210 is facing up.

Further, FIG. 13 shows the bar 214 being placed on top of the first film sheet 210, thus forcing a portion of the first film sheet 210 to wrap under the bar 214 in the cavity 204.

Further, FIG. 14 shows a second sheet 218 being placed on top of the first film sheet 210 such that the EVA side of the second film sheet 218 faces down toward the EVA side of the first film sheet 210. FIG. 15 shows a cover sheet 222 placed on top of the second film sheet 218. The cover sheet 222 can be a 5 mil TEFLON Sheeting #7755644120PPM08 available from Cincinnati Plastics of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Further, FIG. 16 shows an iron 226 attached to an upper sealing plate 228 (better shown in FIG. 17) being placed on top of the cover sheet 222 such that the guides 206 provide for proper positioning of the iron 226 and the upper sealing die 228. The upper sealing plate 228 is made of aluminum to provide for sufficient heat transfer. The iron 226, heated to about 270–290 degrees F. (231–143 degrees C.) is held in the sealing position for about 30 seconds and then removed to allow the materials to cool for about 2 minutes before removing the sealed together the first and second film sheets 210 and 218.

As a final step in fabricating the sleeve 128, the sealed sheets 210 and 218 are trimmed in a trim die 238 shown in FIG. 18, to form the outer configuration of the sleeve 128, a plan view of which is shown in FIG. 19. FIG. 20 shows a side elevation view of the sleeve 128 of FIG. 19, taken along line 20. The outer dimensions forming the configuration of the sleeve 128 of FIGS. 19 and 20, provided by both the sealing and trimming operations described above, are shown in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Identification in FIG. 19 Dimension 240 62 mm 241 145 mm 242 135 mm 243 95 mm 244 78 mm 245 47 mm 246 32 mm 247 20 mm 248 123 mm 249 117 mm 250 67 mm 251 50 mm 252 35 mm 253 29 mm 254 125 degrees 255 34 mm 256 127 mm 257 117 mm R1 50 mm R2 9.5 mm R3 38 mm (marked line)

After the fabrication of the sleeve 128, including the sealing and trimming steps described above, the sleeve 128 is inspected for pinholes using a suitable light table. A sleeve 128 containing any pinholes should be discarded.

The sleeve 128 is then assembled into a sleeve assembly 126 comprising a lower frame 280, an upper frame 282, and the sleeve 128 clamped therebetween, according to FIGS. 21–23 described below. FIG. 24 shows a top plan view of the sleeve assembly 126 after completing the assembling steps of FIGS. 21–23.

As shown in FIGS. 21–24, the sleeve 128 is positioned within the upper and lower frames 280 and 282 of the sleeve assembly 126 such that the lateral edges of the first and second tabs 260 and 261 of the sleeve 128 and the back edge 252 of the sleeve 128 are even with the outer edges of the frames 280 and 282. It should be noted that the width 286 (FIG. 24) of the lower and upper frames 280 and 282 is about 100 mm, which is less than the first width 249 (FIG. 19) of about 117 mm between the lateral edges of the first tabs 260, and less than the second width 248 (FIG. 19) of about 123 mm between the lateral edges of the second tabs 261. Further, the length 288 (FIG. 24) of the frames 280 and 282 is about 106 mm, which is less than the length 257 (FIG. 19) of about 117 mm from the front edge of the first tab 260 to the back edge 252 of the sleeve 128. The above noted larger dimensions of the sleeve 128 in relation to those of the frames 280 and 282 have been selected to provide for the sleeve 128 to sag inside the frames 280 and 282, as shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIGS. 6–9, showing the sleeve assembly 126 inside the in vitro receptacle 106 and, specifically, inside the container 120, wherein the frames 280 and 282 of the sleeve assembly 126 fit preferably snugly inside the container 120 to prevent movement of the sleeve assembly 126 relative to the container 120. The sleeve assembly 126 is positioned at the bottom of the container 120 such that the sleeve opening 127 of the sleeve 128 faces the opening 122 in the front wall of the container 120, and the top surface 146 of the lower frame 280 of the sleeve assembly 126 forms a distance 144 of about 30 mm with the bottom of the container 120.

As best shown in FIG. 10, the sleeve 128 is assembled with the opening 122 of the container 120 such that the sleeve 128 is drawn through the opening until the marked line of the radius R3 (FIG. 19) coincides with the circular edge 131 of the opening 122. The sleeve 128 is clamped under a gasket 148 surrounding the opening 122 of the container 120 and the flange 124 affixed to the container 120.

Referring again to FIGS. 6–9, the in vitro receptacle 106 further includes a tampon deflecting area 150 inside the sleeve 128, representing the frontal area 19 (FIG. 1) of the cervix 18 inside a human vagina. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tampon deflecting area 150 is provided by a column 152 pressing on the upper sheet of the sleeve 128. However, within the scope of the present invention, the tampon deflecting area 150 can be provided by any suitable means capable of deflecting a deployed tampon inside the sleeve 128, including means disposed inside the sleeve 128 (e.g., an area communicating with the top and the bottom layers of the sleeve 128 to provide a deflecting area 150) and/or any suitable means disposed outside the sleeve 128, one example of which is represented by the column 152.

The column 152 can be made from any suitable material ranging in stiffness and hardness capable to provide the deflecting area 150 with the sleeve 128 (without tearing or otherwise damaging the sleeve material). In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the column 152 is made by molding a silicone rubber having a shore hardness of about 25A, available from Silicones, Inc. of High Point, N.C., under the name of GI-1000A. The column 152 is fastened to the top of the container 120 by a screw 162, which axis coincides with the column axis 160. The screw hole of the column 152 includes a metal insert molded into the top of the column 152 to prevent the column 152 from tearing.

The column 152 can be of any suitable size, shape suitable to provide the deflecting area 150 capable of deflecting the tampon inside the sleeve 128. In the exemplary embodiment, within the dimensions of the exemplary embodiments of both the container 120 and the sleeve assembly 126 disclosed above, the column 152 extends vertically and forms a distance 154 of about 10 mm between the bottom of the column 152 and the bottom of the container 120. The column 152 is selected to have a cylindrical shape with a diameter 155 of about 34 mm and a radius R4 of about 6 mm at the bottom of the column 152. However, it should be noted that the diameter 155 of the column 152 forming the tampon-deflecting area 150, can vary and can be as large as 60 mm.

In the vertical plane, as shown in FIG. 9, the outer surface of the column 152 forms a non-deflecting distance 156 of about 59 mm with the second point 158 noted above as being aligned with the base surface 142 and being the point of intersection of the flange axis 138 with the plane of the base surface 142. However, it should be noted that the non-deflecting distance 156 can vary from about 40 mm to about 100 mm.

In the horizontal plane, as shown in FIG. 8, the column 152 is offset in relation to the central axis 140 of the container 120, forming a distance 159 of about 5 mm between the central axis 140 and the column axis 160. The distance 159 can also vary.

Referring to FIGS. 8–9, the in vitro receptacle 106 further includes a port pressurizing the container 120 from about 0 to about 2.5 psi (17.2 kilopascal) above the ambient atmospheric pressure by any suitable fluid or gel, including compressed air. Pressurizing the container 120 creates pressure around the sleeve 128, creating resistance to the entering tampon, simulating the resistance to the tampon entering a human vagina.

The in vitro receptacle 106 can further include a means for providing a liquid, at a desired rate, into any suitable area within the sleeve 128, for example, preferably in the area under the column 152 (“a cervical area”) for in vitro testing the absorption capabilities of tampons disposed in relation to the deflection area 150 of the column 152. The liquid can be provided by any suitable means, for example, through the column 152 and/or the sleeve 128. In one exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A and 19A, the liquid is supplied inside the sleeve 128A through a tubing 170 passed through a channel 172 (FIG. 19A) in the sleeve 128.

It should be noted that the technical characteristics selected for the apparatus of the present invention have been based on data collected by the applicants working with panelists using various tampon-and-applicator systems. The data included MRI images of coronal and sagittal sections of the panelists' vaginas to collect data with respect to particular anatomical measurements of the panelists to design an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Table 3 below shows, in the left, IN VIVO columns, the ranges of the measurements taken from the MRI coronal images, and, in the right, IN VITRO columns, the dimensions selected by the applicants for designing the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

TABLE 3 IN VIVO Range IN VITRO Measurements of measured, Denotation #, Dimension, Panelists mm FIG. # mm A longitudinal 40–70 156, 59 distance between FIGS. 8, 9 Hymenal Ring and the frontal area of Cervix A lateral mis-  0–12 159, 5.25 alignment between FIG. 8 the center of Cervix and the central axes of Hymenal Ring A diameter of 30–40 155, 34 Cervix FIG. 9 Vaginal channel 30–60 251, 50 mm when sleeve width at Cervix FIG. 19 128 is flat and about 45 mm when it forms a 3D profile under column 152, FIG. 9

It should be also noted that consistency and repeatability of the performance of the test apparatus of the present invention could suffer if sleeve 128 is not providing the following essential functions. First, sleeve 128 should be capable of “arresting” the tampon at its deployed state (when a tampon is completely or only partially pushed out from the applicator) such that in the tampon remains still in that “arresting” position inside the sleeve 128 after the removal of the applicator. The sleeve 128, in the horizontal plane, is anchored within the assembly 126 and with the flange 124, and in the vertical plane, it forms a concave shape under the column 152. The sleeve 128 suspended between the horizontally anchored areas and the vertical column pressing from the top, should remain relatively steady during the deployment of the tampon to provide the “arresting” position of the tampon. Further, for the partially expelled tampons, having a frontal portion of the tampon communicating with the sleeve 128 and the trailing portion remaining in the applicator, the sleeve 128, under a pressurized condition, should be capable to hold the frontal portion of the tampon to withstand the force created by the withdrawing action including to action of freeing the partially expelled tampon from the applicator.

The tampon deploying action for the present invention can be consistently provided by any suitable electromechanical means, one embodiment of which is shown in to FIGS. 3–5. The activation mechanism 108 provides a forward stroke of an air cylinder rod pushing the smaller tube of the applicator deploying the tampon from the larger tube of the applicator. The length of the stroke, as well as the speed of the advancing rod, can be reset by any suitable means known in the art, for different tampon-and-applicator systems to be tested by the method of the present invention.

The activation mechanism can perform also other actions, which can be performed manually, but are preferably included in the disclosed embodiment. One action is halting the air cylinder rod in its extended position for a certain time, 8–10 seconds, set by any suitable means. The other action is the retraction of the air cylinder rod pulling the empty tampon applicator from the in vitro receptacle after the deployment of the tampon into the in vitro receptacle 106.

As shown in FIGS. 3–5, the activation mechanism 108 includes an air cylinder 350 attached to the base 102 of the test apparatus 100 by a suitable bracket 352 in such a way that to form two angles noted above: the horizontal angle A (FIG. 4) in the horizontal plane and a vertical angle B (FIG. 5) in the vertical plane.

The air cylinder 350, when activated, extends a rod 354 having at its end a drive member 356 comprising a relatively smooth surface 358 oriented perpendicularly to the air cylinder axis, for contacting and pushing the smaller tube of tampon applicator to deploy a tampon. However, in addition to providing the pushing action for deploying the tampon, the drive member 356 of the disclosed embodiment is also designed to provide a pulling action for removing the adaptor 302 with the empty tampon applicator from the in vitro receptacle 106 after the deployment of a tampon. For this, the drive member 356 includes flexible grippers 360 (FIG. 29) designed to engage with a circular grove 322 (FIG. 25) of the adaptor 302.

The speed at which the drive member 356 pushes the smaller tube 326 is about 60 mm per second. The retraction speed of the drive member 356 can be any reasonable speed. Both speeds can be provided by any suitable means commonly used in the art.

After pushing the smaller tube 326 of the applicator, the air cylinder 350 remains in the extended position, dwelling for a selected time of about 8–10 seconds before retracting. The air cylinder 350 can be any suitable air cylinder, for example a ¾″ bore Clippard Minimatic, Part # M3 UDR-12-4 obtained from Clippard Instrument Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio. The operation of the air cylinder for providing a desired stroke (about 72 mm), speed (about 60 mm/sec), and dwelling time (about 8–10 seconds) can be provided by any suitable means known in the art.

After the removal of the adaptor 124 with the empty applicator 309, a pin plug 370 (as shown in FIG. 30) is inserted by the operator into the in vitro receptacle 106 to provide a reference point coinciding with the second point 158 noted above.

As shown in FIG. 32, the pin plug 370 has a smaller cylinder 372, a larger cylinder 374, a pin 376 extending along the axis 378 at a distance D of 14 mm from the larger cylinder 374, and a slot 382 extending through the both cylinders 372 and 374. The diameter of the smaller cylinder 372 is sized to fit snugly into the larger opening 134 (FIG. 9) of the in vitro receptacle 106. The diameter of the larger cylinder 374 can be of any size that is larger than that of the smaller cylinder to provide for the predetermined depth D of insertion of the tip 384 of the pin 376. At that depth D of insertion, the position of the tip 384 of the pin 376 coincides with the second point 158 on the flange axis 138 of the flange 124. The position of the tip 384 serves herein as a basis point for measuring the position of the anterior boundary 404 of the target positioning zone 400 (described below) disposed horizontally inside the transparent walls of the in vitro receptacle 160 for viewing and/or photo graphing from above the container 120.

A suitable photo camera 112 (such as CANNON EOS Digital Rebel, 6.3 Megapixel, Interchangeable Lense, SLR, Digital Camera with Cannon Normal EF 50 mm f/2.5 Compact Macro Autofocus Lens USA, Mfr. Catalog # 2537A003, B&H Catalog # CA5025MEF) is disposed on the bracket 110 at a distance 107 of about 297 mm measured between the top of the in vitro receptacle 106 and the bottom surface of the focused lens. The measurements may be calibrated by using a plastic cylinder representing a tampon deployed into the in vitro receptacle 106. For example, the plastic cylinder can be made of TEFLON having a diameter of about 16 mm and a length of about 50 mm.

It should be noted that the technical characteristics selected for the in vitro apparatus of the present invention have been based on data collected by the applicants working with panelists using tampon-and-applicator systems. The data included MRI images of coronal and sagittal sections of panelists' vaginas to provide data of selected anatomical measurements to design the exemplary embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Table 3 below shows, in the IN VIVO columns, the ranges of the measurements taken from the MRI coronal and sagittal images, and, in the IN VITRO columns the dimensions selected by the applicants for designing the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, other dimensions, preferably within the range of the MRI measurements below, can be utilized in designing other embodiments of the present invention particularly suitable for in vitro studies of performance of tampons in absorbing fluid (supplied from the “cervical” area) with respect to the position of the tampon in relation to the cervix.

TABLE 3 IN VIVO Range IN VITRO Measurements of measured, Denotation #, Dimension, Panelists mm FIG. # mm A longitudinal 40–70 156, 59 distance between FIGS. 8, 9 Hymenal Ring and the frontal area of Cervix A lateral mis-  0–12 159, 5.25 alignment between FIG. 8 the center of Cervix and the central axes of Hymenal Ring A diameter of 30–40 155, 34 Cervix FIG. 9 Vaginal channel 30–60 251, 50 mm when sleeve width at Cervix FIG. 19 128 is flat and about 45 mm when it forms a 3D profile under column 152, FIG. 9

FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram illustrating variable dimensions of a low-placement positioning zone 400 of the present invention disposed in a horizontal plane relative to both the deflecting zone 150 of the front area of the column 152 and the tip 384 of the pin 376 (disposed slightly off set from the central axis 140) of the pin plug 370 (not shown in FIG. 34). The low-placement positioning zone 400 defines a rectangular comprising a posterior boundary 402, an anterior boundary 404, and two opposing side boundaries 406 disposed symmetrically and parallel to the central axes 140 (also shown in FIGS. 7–10 of the in vitro receptacle 106). As noted above, the tip 384 of the pin 376 indicates the position of the second point 158 in the plane of the base surface 142.

The posterior boundary 402 of the low-placement positioning zone 400 is disposed at a posterior depth 408 measured from a line 410 drawn perpendicularly to the centerline 140 and tangentially to the deflecting zone 150 of the column 132. The posterior depth 408 is preferably 0 mm and less preferably about 3 mm.

The anterior boundary 404 of the low-placement positioning zone 400 is disposed at an anterior depth 416 measured from the tip 384 of the pin 376. The anterior depth 416 is preferably about 10 mm, less preferably about 5 mm, and even less preferably 0 mm.

Accordingly, depending on the particular positions of the anterior and the posterior boundaries 410 and 402, the length 412 of the low-placement positioning zone 400 can range from about 49 mm (most preferred) to about 62 mm (least preferred). Further, the width 414 of the low-placement positioning zone 400 can also range from 30 to 40 mm.

Method Steps

-   1) Pressurizing the container 120 of the in vitro receptacle 106 to     provide an outer pressure of about 0.6 psi (4.1 kilopascal) for the     sleeve 128 inside the container 120. -   2) Inserting a tampon-and-applicator system to be tested by the     method of the present invention into the adaptor 302 (FIG. 25) such     that the trailing end 312 of the larger tube 308 of the tested     tampon-and-applicator system is even with the trailing end 314 of     the adaptor 302. -   3) Arranging a removal string 307 (FIG. 25) inside the smaller tube     326 so the removal string 307 is fully contained inside the smaller     tube 326 and does not become subsequently entrapped between the     smaller tube 326 and the drive member 356 (FIG. 4) of the activation     mechanism 108. -   4) Placing the adaptor 302 with the tampon-and-applicator system     into the flange 124 of the in vitro receptacle 106, as shown in FIG.     26, such that the leading end 316 (FIG. 25) of the adaptor 302 is     brought against and in contact with the base surface 142 (FIG. 9) of     the flange 124. As shown in FIG. 26, the driving member 356 of the     air cylinder 350 of the activating mechanism 108 is in a retracting     position. -   5) Activating the air cylinder 350 to advance the driving member 356     to push the smaller tube 326 to eject the tampon 305 from the     tampon-and-applicator system. FIG. 27 shows the driving member 356     advancing to push the smaller tube 326. FIG. 28 shows the driving     member 356 at the end of its advancing action deploying the tampon     305 into the in vitro receptacle 106. -   6) Dwelling the driving member 356 at the end of its advancing     action for about 8–10 seconds. (FIG. 28) -   7) Activating the air cylinder 350 to retract the driving member 356     engaged with the adaptor 302 to pull the adaptor 302 with the empty     applicator 309 (as shown in FIG. 30) from the in vitro receptacle     106, leaving the deployed tampon 305 in the in vitro receptacle 106     with the removal string 307 attached to the tampon 305 and extending     out from the in vitro receptacle 106. -   8) Inserting the pin plug 370 (as shown in FIG. 31) into the in     vitro receptacle 106 in place of the removed adaptor 302; but     previously placing the removal string 307 along the grove of the pin     plug 370, taking care not to move the tampon while handling the     string 307. -   9) Photographing the position of the tampon with respect to a     low-placement positioning zone 400 inside the in vitro receptacle     106.

FIG. 35 is an exemplary photograph of a tampon 10A disposed within the boundaries of the most preferred low-placement positioning zone 400A having the posterior boundary 402 adjacent the deflecting area 150 of the column 152 and the anterior boundary 404 at the anterior depth 416 of about 10 mm (measured from the tip 384 of the pin 376). The length 412 of the low-placement positioning zone 400A is about 49 mm and the width 414 of about 30 mm.

FIG. 36 is an exemplary photograph of tampon 10A disposed within the boundaries of the least preferred low-placement positioning zone 400B of having the posterior boundary at a posterior depth 408 of about 3 mm and the anterior boundary 404 at zero mm from the tip 384.

FIG. 37 is an exemplary photograph of tampon 10 being partially disposed outside the boundaries of the low-placement-positioning zone 400A of the present invention.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are incorporated, in relevant part, herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

1. An apparatus for in vitro testing of tampon-and-applicator systems, comprising a pressurized container and a sleeve disposed inside the container for accepting a tampon deployed by an applicator of the tampon-and-applicator system, the sleeve comprising a tampon-deflecting area.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a low-placement positioning zone having a width and forming an anterior depth and a posterior depth.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the low-placement-positioning zone has a width of about 30 mm and farms an anterior depth of about 10 mm and a posterior depth of about 0 mm.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the anterior depth is about 5 mm.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the anterior depth is about 0 mm.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the posterior depth is about 3 mm.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the width of the low-placement-positioning zone is about 40 mm.
 8. The test apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tampon deflecting area is formed by an external means.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the external means comprises a column being in communication with the sleeve.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pressurizing means to provide an internal pressure ranging from about 0 psi (0 pascal) to about 2.5 psi (17.2 kilopascal).
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pressurizing means to provide an internal pressure of about 0.6 psi (4.1 kilopascal).
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a liquid delivering means for providing a liquid inside the sleeve.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the liquid is provided adjacent the tampon deflecting zone.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a non-deflecting distance ranging from about 40 mm to about 100 mm. 